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According to Trump, Mexico ows the U.S. more than 800,000 acres of water.
A simmering clash over shared river supplies flared again this week, as Washington signaled it may resort to trade penalties.
The White House says months of quiet talks have failed to resolve the impasse, putting pressure on agricultural regions already strained by drought.
Officials describe the situation as time-sensitive, with year-end deadlines approaching and no movement from Mexico on its pending deliveries.
Treaty tensions
Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social account, the administration believes Mexico is falling short on obligations under a decades-old water accord that governs flows along the Rio Grande.
Trump argued that the lapse is harming producers in Texas, saying, “Mexico continues to violate our comprehensive Water Treaty, and this violation is seriously hurting our beautiful Texas crops and livestock.”
The president asserted that Mexico has allowed more than 800,000 acre-feet of water to accumulate unpaid over a five-year period. He said US agencies have pressed the issue repeatedly but “Mexico is not responding.”
New Years deadline
Trump said the United States needs Mexico to provide at least 200,000 acre-feet by December 31, with the remainder to follow soon after. “It is very unfair to our U.S. Farmers who deserve this much-needed water,” he wrote, framing the dispute as an urgent matter for rural communities.
With no progress reported, Trump announced that he has approved preparations for a new trade measure. “That is why I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn’t released, immediately,” he said.
The Mexican government has not publicly responded to the latest warning, and US officials have not detailed when a tariff order might take effect.
What is the Water Treaty?
According to Congress.gov, The 1944 Water Treaty addresses the Rio Grande basin below Fort Quitman, TX.
The treaty outlines the U.S.’s right to flows from tributaries, that feed the Rio Grande ind the U.S., as well as on-third of specified Mexican tributaries flows.
According to the website, Mexico has not met the delivery obligations on several occassions since the signing of the treaty, including the five-year cycle that started October 25 2020. According to the treaty, the deficiency must be replaced during the next five-year cycle.
Sources:; Truth Social, Congress.gov, AA
